Janssen’s Market: BBB of Delaware Milestone Member

Published: 03.16.2012

Janssen’s Market in Greenville celebrates a milestone of its own this year: The company is 60 years old. It was 1952 when Joseph Janssen Sr. opened the doors to his grocery store. Today Janssen’s is still family-owned and operated. Joseph Janssen Jr. and his wife, Eileen, who have been at the helm since 1984, were joined in 2004 by a third generation, daughter Paula Janssen.

Although once common, family-owned grocery stores have become rare in recent years as major chains gobble up smaller stores. Several years ago Janssen’s faced a challenge when another grocery store came to town, but Janssen’s succeeded where the chain store failed because the owners and employees knew their customers and knew how to meet their needs.

“We give people a reason to shop here instead of at the larger chains,” says Paula Janssen. “We do that through the quality of our products and the quality of our service.”

Retail businesses are notorious for rapid turnover. But Janssen’s can point to 10 employees who have worked at the market for more than 10 years, including a manager who’s been there for 49 years.

The market is just as dedicated to the community, Janssen says. It supports many local charities through sponsorships and donations. Its café serves as a community meeting space and a space for nonprofits to connect with constituents.

Janssen’s has succeeded despite the odds for many reasons. Foremost, says Paula Janssen, are the company’s dedication to honesty, integrity and customer service—ideals perfectly aligned with BBB standards. Janssen’s has been a member of the Better Business Bureau of Delaware for almost 30 years. In 2010 it received the organization’s prestigious Edward M. Rush Award for family-owned businesses.

“We value the stamp of approval that we get from BBB accreditation,” Paula Janssen says. “It’s another way to communicate to our customers that we are upstanding and willing to stand behind what we do.” Janssen also approves of the BBB’s mechanism for handling complaints, which helps consumers and businesses alike.